cloud overshadowed her above, full of rain and hail, and all the vessel of it was poured out so
that many were in peril of death, and the fire was quenched, and Thecla was preserved.
23 Now Paul was fasting with Onesiphorus and his wife and their children in an open sepulchre
on the way whereby they go from Iconium to Daphne. And when many days were past, as they
fasted, the boys said unto Paul: We are anhungered. And they had not wherewith to buy bread,
for Onesiphorus had left the goods of this world, and followed Paul with all his house. But Paul
took off his upper garment and said: Go, child, buy several loaves and bring them. And as the
boy was buying, he saw his neighbour Thecla, and was astonished, and said: Thecla, whither
goest thou? And she said: I seek Paul, for I was preserved from the fire. And the boy said: Come,
I will bring thee unto him, for he mourneth for thee and prayeth and fasteth now these six days.
24 And when she came to the sepulchre unto Paul, who had bowed his knees and was praying
and saying: O Father of Christ, let not the fire take hold on Thecla, but spare her, for she is thine:
she standing behind him cried out: O Father that madest heaven and earth, the Father of thy
beloved child Jesus Christ, I bless thee for that thou hast preserved me from the fire, that I might
see Paul. And Paul arose and saw her and said: O God the knower of hearts, the Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, I bless thee that thou hast speedily accomplished that which I asked of thee,
and hast hearkened unto me.
25 And there was much love within the sepulchre, for Paul rejoiced, and Onesiphorus, and all of
them. And they had five loaves, and herbs, and water (and salt), and they rejoiced for the holy
works of Christ. And Thecla said unto Paul: I will cut my hair round about and follow thee
whithersoever thou goest. But he said: The time is ill-favoured and thou art comely: beware lest
another temptation take thee, worse than the first, and thou endure it not but play the coward.
And Thecla said: Only give me the seal in Christ, and temptation shall not touch me. And Paul
said: Have patience, Thecla, and thou shalt receive the water.
26 And Paul sent away Onesiphorus with all his house unto Iconium, and so took Thecla and
entered into Antioch: and as they entered in, a certain Syriarch, Alexander by name, saw Thecla
and was enamoured of her, and would have bribed (flattered) Paul with money and gifts. But
Paul said: I know not the woman of whom thou speakest, neither is she mine. But as he was of
great power, he himself embraced her in the highway; and she endured it not, but sought after
Paul and cried out bitterly, saying: Force not the stranger, force not the handmaid of God. I am of
the first of the Iconians, and because I would not marry Thamyris, I am cast out of the city. And
she caught at Alexander and rent his cloak and took the wreath from his head and made him a
mocking-stock.
27 But he alike loving her and being ashamed of what had befallen him, brought her before the
governor; and when she confessed that she had done this, he condemned her to the beasts; But
the women were greatly amazed, and cried out at the judgement seat: An evil judgement, an
impious judgement! And Thecla asked of the governor that she might remain a virgin until she
should fight the beasts; and a certain rich queen, Tryphaena by name, whose daughter had died,
took her into her keeping, and had her for a consolation.
28 Now when the beasts were led in procession, they bound her to a fierce lioness, and the queen
Tryphaena followed after her: but the lioness, when Thecla was set upon her, licked her feet, and
all the people marvelled. Now the writing (title) of her accusation was: Guilty of sacrilege. And
the women with their children cried out from above: O God, an impious judgement cometh to
pass in this city. And after the procession Tryphaena took her again. For her daughter Falconilla,
ron
(Ron)
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